#anna x leo

[ace-of-garlic-breads]

So Hallo-week day 5: Anneo my favorite trans-guy programmer and his jock gf.

[andreai04]

All happy families resemble one another, each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.

‘I have nothing to forget or forgive, I never ceased to love you.'

[fr-ogii]

falling for you

count vronsky

x fem!reader; poc friendly

masterlist

request: "romantic hc when he meets his now wife after Anna's death and how he fell for her 💎✨" @hilalcoven

-> the count never thought he could fall for anyone ever again after the death of his lover, anna. he didn't even know how he would be able to live. he couldn't raise annie, their kid. despite barely having any distinguishing features yet, the thought that she would turn into someone that resembled anna was too much to bear. he felt awful that his daughter had to lose both her parents in such quick succession, but he could not force himself to raise her.

-> he had sworn off love entirely, convinced it would bring nothing but misfortune to him and any future lover of his.

-> but he changed his tune when he met you.

it was a cold september night in st. petersburg. it had been a couple years since the fateful day anna lost her life. the count had returned to the city from serbia - his time fighting against the ottoman empire was up.

he had expected the pain of his loss to have reduced itself after the years both away from anna and away from the city he became acquainted with her in. unfortunately for alexei, the pain came back as soon as he saw the skyline of st petersburg emerging from the horizon.

to escape this, vronsky visited a tavern as soon as he arrived in the all-too familiar city.

the warmth of the bustling building rushed to meet him as soon as the count opened the well worn door. the stench of cheap alcohol enveloped him as soon as he stepped inside and let the door swing shut behind him. his eyes landed on the bar that was situated a bit further back into the establishment and was occupied by two men who were clearly foreigners to this area and were speaking quickly in a tongue alexei could not understand. as was the unspoken rule, alexei sat two stools over and waited for the worker behind the bar to come over.

count vronsky had become impossibly quiet in the time away from anna. he only spoke when addressed. he avoided confrontation. it was as if the death of the mother of his child had left him mute.

an uncountable amount of minutes passed before a noise brought alexei out of his stupor. he had long since received his meal - a roasted meat he already forgot the name of. the pale ale in his mug had been nursed far too many times and was nearly gone.

his head snapped up when he heard that noise again. it was the trotting of a horse and the spinning wheels of the carriage it was pulling. there was something so recognizable about it. before alexei could be sucked back into his reminiscing tendencies, he turned around as the wooden door opened.

and there you were.

he wouldn't exactly call it "love at first sight", but he was certainly intrigued. count vronsky looked around the bar and noticed a couple other men that let their eyes flicker towards you periodically. aleksey stood slowly, stretching out the aches and pains that had grown in his joints in the many minutes he had been sitting. he would not let another man reach you before he could. and so, he began to walk over to you.

[aestheeredie]

The Affair

➳ Alexei Vronsky & reader

➳ Angst

➳ Hurt, no comfort

➳ Warning: Cheating

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The sky outside was darkening, casting long shadows across the ornate furnishings of your shared home. The tension in the room was thick, almost suffocating, as you moved around, methodically packing your belongings into a bag. Each item you placed inside felt like a piece of your heart breaking off, leaving a hollow void in its place.

Alexei stood near the door, his usually composed demeanor shattered. His eyes, which had once gazed at you with so much love and adoration, were now filled with a mixture of desperation and regret. He took a tentative step towards you, his voice trembling as he spoke. “Please, listen to me. It’s not what you think.”

You paused, your back to him, unable to bear the sight of his face. “It’s exactly what I think,” you replied, your voice cold and flat. “The gossip, the whispers—it’s all true, isn’t it? And you thought I wouldn't know? That I wouldn't find out about your foolery with that woman?"

Alexei’s silence was answer enough. You could feel the weight of his guilt pressing down on you, suffocating you. Tears stung at your eyes, but you refused to let them fall. Not here, not in front of him.

“I never meant for this to happen,” he said, his voice breaking. “I was weak. I made a terrible mistake.”

You turned to face him, the pain in your eyes cutting through him like a knife. “A mistake? Is that what you call it? It's not a mistake, it's a choice that YOU made. You had a choice. Do you have any idea what you’ve done? You’ve destroyed everything we had.”

Alexei took another step forward, his hands outstretched in a pleading gesture. “I love you, please,” he said desperately. “I love you more than anything. Please, don’t leave.”

You shook your head, a bitter laugh escaping your lips. “Love? You "love" me? If you love me, you wouldn’t have done this. You wouldn’t have betrayed me."

He tried to reach for you, but you stepped back. “It’s over, Alexei. I can’t stay here, not after what you’ve done.”

The finality in your voice seemed to hit him like a physical blow. He stumbled back, his face pale, his eyes wide with shock. “Please, don’t do this,” he whispered. “I can’t lose you.”

But it was too late. The bond that had once tied you together was irreparably broken, severed by his betrayal. You turned away from him, focusing on your task. Each item you packed felt like another nail in the coffin of your relationship.

Alexei stood frozen, helpless as he watched you gather the last of your things. His mind raced, searching for the right words, the magic phrase that would undo the damage and bring you back to him. But there were no words, no gestures, that could erase the hurt he had caused.

Finally, you closed up the bag and turned to face him one last time. You took the ring off your finger and grabbed his hand forcefully, giving him the ring that once banded you two together with vows to one another. You knelt down to meet his eyes. “Goodbye, Alexei,” you said, your voice devoid of emotion. “I hope you’re happy with your choices and that mistress of yours." You stood up and began walking away from him.

He reached out and grabbed a handful of your dress, his hand trembling. “Please,” he begged on his knees, his voice barely more than a whisper. “Don’t go. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." He looked up at you, eyes red and puffy from how much he has cried. His eyes filled with so much sorrow and regret that you almost, almost feel sorry for him.

You grabbed your dress and yanked it from his hand and turned around, never looking back. You walked out the door, leaving behind the man who had once been your everything. The sound of the door closing behind you echoed through the house, a final, devastating punctuation to the end of your relationship, your marriage.

The weight of his actions crashed down on him. The silence of the house was deafening, a stark reminder of what he had lost. He had betrayed the one person who had believed in him, loved him unconditionally, and saw him for who he really was. And now, he was alone, left to face the consequences of his actions.

The emptiness of the room mirrored the emptiness inside him. He had thought he could have it all, that he could indulge his weaknesses and desires without consequence. But now, he understood the true cost of his betrayal. The love of his life was gone, and he was left with nothing but the bitter taste of regret.

As the night deepened, Alexei remained on the floor, the darkness closing in around him. The home that had once been filled with warmth and love was now a cold, empty shell. And he knew, with a painful clarity, that he had no one to blame but himself.

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[nyrasbloodyclover]

a real fucking legacy (a. k. vornsky)

a/n: stop asking why because i REALLY DON'T KNOW. my fav book, my fav fictional man, i am literally an anna karenina bible

I entered the ballroom that glittered with golden lights from the crystal chandeliers. I felt dizzy from all the excitement that was following me throughout the whole day, making sure my posture was perfect, dress unwrinkled and smile bright, just as everybody expected.

It was my third year after I came out into society, and no matter how many balls I attended, each one of them held a special place in my almost empty heart. Especially the ones I went to in the last 3 months.

All because he looked at me. He danced with me. And then decided to sneak out and find a place where no one would see us. We spent hours together on some deserted balcony. He was a good man and as much as I wanted to, he wouldn't lay a finger on me let alone, touch me the way he was wasn't supposed to.

Count Vronsky had many qualities that made him different from other gentlemen I've met, but the one I loved the most was that he was an amazing storyteller. He's seen so much, he's been everywhere and as a girl who practically did nothing my whole youth I was a great listener. He painted landscapes to me with his words and even when he thought some things he said didn't make any sense, I understood it all.

As he was older and much more mature, I made myself remember the way he formed his sentences and try to use it while telling the story of us.

I wore a maroon dress, not wanting to stand out, though the patterns on it were granular.Black lace was covering the edges while the corset was tied enough to make my breathing almost painful. My hair was pinned up, making my scalp hurt, but I somehow got used to all of it.

I saw some of my friends not too far from me, but a tall figure appeared before I could approach them. A younger man. I knew him. His name was Ivan-something and my mother would be delighted if  I decided to marry him. I fake smiled at him as he asked me for a dance. He absolutely blended in with all the other men I knew. I had to say yes. They couldn't suspect me and Vronsky, It was never going to happen, so why make fool of myself?

I inhaled sharply as he took my gloved hand and led me to the center of the ballroom. I loved to dance, but with an awful partner, even life could be miserable. I felt despondent as he spun me around and stepped on my feet continuously. Music ringed in my ears.

Even if I adored this piece, I couldn't stand it at the moment. I looked around and I felt like my gown was blood-soaked. My lungs were bleeding. I needed air. I wanted to go away, far, far away. Everyone was either dancing or talking and smiling, having much better time than me. Everyone except one person. And that person was approaching us right now. His pace was fast and strong and confident, everything I wasn't right now. He looked resplendent. I was counting seconds and begging him silently to end this torment.

He heard and answered my prayers.

Ivan suddenly stopped and I couldn't be more grateful. I wanted to hug my savior and thank him properly, but the only thing I could do right now was smile and slightly nod. Enough for him to understand. Vronsky's eyes went over my figure. His expression was flat but he tried to act polite. 

Ivan and I separated and Vronsky took a chance to whisper something to him. I couldn't make out any of the words, but I could see Ivan't expression change immediately. He tried to act friendly but miserably failed and excused himself. I tried not to laugh at him and couldn't stop wondering what had Vronsky said to him to make him leave without any protest. Vronsky turned to me.

"Good evening," he smiled,  "It looked like he was bothering you?" Did we actually look that bad? I thought I put on a great performance. 

"I don't think it was that miserable. He only stepped on my shoes three times."

Vronsky let out a rich laugh that I adored and It reminded me how much I miss him. I wanted us to sneak out like before. And I wanted to listen to him talk. But most of all, I wanted to dance with him, and feel his touch even if it was minimal. It was the most I'm ever going to get from him.

I took a step closer and he noticed. I wanted him to read my mind and do the right thing. He looked hesitant. Too hesitant. I looked up at him through my lashes and he tilted his head backwards. Not too much, it was the smallest movement but I noticed. 

"I should g—" 

"Ask me to dance," I blurted out.

He practically whipped his head in my direction and I felt blood rushing into my cheeks. If he refuses I'll leave. I'll leave immediately. And die of embarrassment, while we're at that.

He looked like he was fighting with himself, trying to do what he wanted and what was expected of him. But what I said was painfully forward and I should be ashamed of that. And I would be if it was someone else. With him I felt completely different. A moment passed.

"Very well," he said as he reached for my hand.

I tried to hide my face from him because I swear it was the color of my gown. Scarlet — practically maroon.

He placed one hand on my hip as his other took mine and I forgot everything else. 

His touch burned on me as Vronsky held my gaze. His eyes were mesmerizing and I ached to be closer to him in any possible way. He led me through the ballroom as we moved to the rythm of the soft music that was not so irritating now.

His fingers traced the laces on my back, toying with them. I inhaled sharply and he smirked at me, but we didn't stop dancing. I felt like we were the only ones in the entire room—I couldn't see anything except him. And I wanted it to stay that way.

I was dazed for a couple of seconds before he let go of me and stepped away.

I felt empty and for some reason exposed without his body shielding me from the people in the room.

"I'll bring us something to drink." It was a simple offer and it made me realize how thirsty I actually was. I nodded and moved to the side, so I don't bother anyone. My face was burning. Because of him.

Vronsky appeared seconds later with two wine glasses. Smiling up at him, I reached for one glass but instead of taking it like a normal person I managed to spill it all over my dress. I wanted to cry but he didn't look like it bothered him that I was practically ruined now. I tried to not cause a scene but it was hard. That was my favorite dress.

Tears prickled my eyes, but he didn't let me roll in self pity. "Don't worry. We just need to go somewhere more...private and I'll fix this. But look, now the dress completely matches your face." And he left without letting me respond to his comment. I wanted to crawl in a hole and die, but instead I waited for him.

He came with napkins and took my hand looking awfully suspicious. But I wasn't sure why. 

He looked around and saw that nobody was paying attention to us, though that was unexpected. Alexei smiled like he won the biggest prize and quickly led us through the backdoor of the ballroom. The rest of the house was empty and I swear he could hear my rapid heartbeat along with pulsing in my ears.

I knew what he wanted and where he was going. I was glad I knew his mind so well that he became predictable to me. I knew his desires and dreams and I couldn't help but wish I was one of them.

His white uniform matched perfectly with my much darker dress. Though Alexei was perfectly put together, while I was...the opposite.

We entered some dark room I didn't recognize. It was large but almost empty. It looked like someone's personal gallery. There was a desk in the corner along with some bookshelves. He closed the door. Then locked it. 

My head immediately turned to him, "There is no reason to lock the door, Alexei," I smiled innocently. "We aren't doing anything wrong." 

A moment passed between us. I scanned the shelves and touched the hard spines with golden embroidery. I tried to act like a fool, but I knew.

"We are about to."

And that did it. It made me completely lose my self control as I was throwing away the last pieces of dignity I had tonight. He practically marched towards me and grabbed my neck as he gently placed his mouth on mine. He knew I had absolutely no experience with men, so he was going easy on me. For now.

My whole body was on fire while he almost unnoticeably squeezed my neck. I moaned into his mouth and Vronsky towered over me, leading me back with his body. I was going backwards until I hit the large shelves. 

"Stop me before it's too late," he gasped into my neck. It was intoxicating. Everything about him, about the way he moved to the way he touched me was addicting I wasn't sure I would be able to stop.

"I won't," was all I said, but it made him aware that I was willing to give myself to him completely.

"You said you will take care of my dress," I added, still playing innocent, even if what we were doing was far from that. 

"And I'm planning to do just that," he said as he turned me. I was now facing shelves, my back to him. It gave him complete access to my corset. Which he began to untie immediately. He was skilled with his hands, I realized just now. It made my stomach turn in very unfamiliar way. I didn't know what kind of influence he actually had on me, but I liked it. It made me careless and stupid, but I was in control my whole life. It was nice to give it to someone else now.

Corset was down and my whole body felt hypersensitive for whatever reason. I wanted him to do so many things but I didn't know how to ask or if I was supposed to anyway. So I let him play with me.

"Turn, dorogaya," he whispered from behind and I obeyed. The nickname made me want to grab him and kiss his whole face. Then he went down. "I'm going to make you see stars." 

That was the last thing he said before taking down my skirt and the rest of the undergarments until I was stripped bare in front of him. But I was surprised I wasn't the least bit ashamed. Somehow, this felt completely ordinary with him. I was scared to move. I didn't know what or how to do anything. 

He naturally noticed and smiled, but not in a mocking way. His smile was so sweet I melted. 

"Touch me wherever you want. And however you want. Don't be afraid." That gave me a bit of confidence, so I looked down at him, on his knees. The image before me made me feel things I didn't know I was capable of feeling. I ran my hand through his hair and he closed his eyes, while his eyelids fluttered. 

It seemed like I had the same effect on him. Then I did something that made me question myself. I led his head down, in between my legs and I saw him smirk, but he knew what to do. 

The first time I felt his tongue on me was the closest I'll be to setting myself on fire. I gripped his hair on instinct. 

His mouth was doing wonders to me. I felt every sensation of it through my entire body. My head fell on the shelves and I had to press down a moan. Was this supposed to be this intense? He stopped using his mouth and continued with fingers while continuously kissing my lower stomach.

Vronsky did everything with patience and commitment. I didn't know why I thought this would be any different. I made a noise that sounded painful, but only because he was moving so slowly and torturedmewith his fingers. He shot me a concerned look, "Should I stop?"

"No, no, nonono," I cried out. I felt hard pressure building in my lower stomach and I grew dizzy. He went faster but then stopped and my hips buckled, while I was fighting the urge to do something myself. "Please continue," I pleaded.

"How could I not when you beg me so pretty?" He cocked his head and continued working me much faster this time, but still gentle. He took his time with me, looking at my reactions to certain movements, the sounds I was trying not to make, my face expressions. He knew what he was doing and he did it so well that It actually made me see stars. I choked on a scream as I was trying to catch a breath. My knees buckled and I felt I was closer to the edge.

He switched to his mouth again and Alexei's tongue finished the job. He put my leg over his shoulder to get better access and that completely pushed me.

I finished on his mouth and seconds later went down with him. He held me as I was trying to even out my breathing. "Can we do it again?" I surprised myself by asking.

He smiled down at me, "When you become countess, yes."

[sailxrmxrs]

hello i really love your writing! if you're taking requests, i've been thinking about the infinite blue boys in a typical office setting with the MC and what that would be like? thank you!!~

this has been sat in my inbox for SO LONG I AM SO SORRY TO THE PERSON WHO REQUESTED THIS SDKFDGS but!! better later than never right??? right?????? anyway now is the perfect time to finally get around to this bc my brain has been so occupied lately playing sympathy kiss so office based otome is right at the forefront of my mind hehe. it's like it was meant to be. ALSO thank u so much!! i don't think too much about what i write after it's been posted so i forget people actually look at it sometimes sksjfkf TY FOR REQUESTING THIS WAS LOVELY TO THINK ABOUT also incredibly funny looking at the last post of me being like 'i want to get back to writing more regularly!!' as if i didn't slink back into the shadows again for four months this was also the first thing i've written since getting my new keyboard which is really taking some getting used to especially with nails dsklfsg still, enjoy office time gamers o7

♡ leo ♡

Leo definitely seems like the type to bring the energy to his office department, especially on a Monday morning when everyone wants nothing more than to have had just one more day to spend at home before work started all over again for another week. He'd be the only one with a spring in his step as he went about his morning, filling his water bottle, getting situated at his desk. Speaking of his desk, Leo's workspace would be the definition or organised chaos. Post-it notes are scattered across the bottom of his monitor, there's a pile of loose sheets covered in haphazard notes scrawled across them, and there are definitely more than a few pens with no ink left strewn across the desk. They also happen to be mixed in with perfectly usable pens so Leo would have to scramble for a pen when someone from another department came to brief him on a project he was working on. Every time, without fail, he is grabbing pens and scribbling on a notepad until he finds one that works enough to make notes clear enough for him to reference later on. You ask each time why he doesn't just go through and throw away the empty pens to which Leo jokingly scoffs about how he finds the right pens first time every time. He does not.

He's very much the epitome of a work best friend. Someone who will text you on the weekend like 'I know we spend every day sat next to each other but can we hang out together pls'. He enjoys your company okay!! You are very fun and he wants you to know that!! Will find himself getting into a bit of trouble for getting distracted talking about weekend plans with you but can you blame him? It's a Friday afternoon and his brain has logged off. Unfortunately for Leo, despite his brain having logged off, his computer is very much logged in so he has to force himself to keep going for that last stretch of hours between him and the weekend. Will whine and complain to you about how Fridays should be half days which, given Leo's usual demeanour at the start of the week, is an amusing shift in tone. Cut to a couple of hours later and Leo is shutting down his computer the second the clock ticks over to 5pm. He'll swing his chair around to face you, staring you down until you finally close everything down to get ready to leave. Think puppy watching and waiting for you to take them on a walk. Sometimes if you have plans for the Friday evening, he'll offer to pick you up on the way to work to save you the drive too. Also because it gives him an excuse for being late like oh no there was just so much traffic leaving their place I definitely did not stop for coffee on the way here not at all!! He absolutely did but don't worry he didn't forget to pick up your favourite order too~

I think Leo would be a really good motivator in the office too. If a day was going particularly bad, or if a really busy period struck he would be the perfect person to help keep your mood in balance. He's very encouraging for you to step away from your desk. Take a break, have a drink, maybe get a little snack to energise yourself. But he doesn't do it to distract you nor does he overstep any boundaries. He will offhandedly comment on how hard you've been working and make a gentle suggestion that a break is needed. He'd also offer to lend a hand if there was anything particularly pressing that was weighing you down. Try and say no. Try it. Never works. Leo's always happy to help because he knows you would do the same for him and have previously done so in the past when he was newer to the job and hadn't quite gotten his bearings yet. He makes the long days pass by quicker. Truly the best person to work with.

♡ milo ♡

Milo is absolutely that one coworker who keeps to himself a lot and develops this really cool and mysterious reputation. No one really knows what he does for work and no one ever asks him either because they're a little too intimidated to talk to him. It's not that he's had any particularly bad run-ins with anyone else in the office but more so that he no one really knows a whole lot about him. Any conversations about his weekend plans or what he did the evening prior are met with the most normal responses someone could muster. He's going grocery shopping, he's visiting family, he stayed in last night to watch tv. No one knows anything about his life outside of work and no one's bumped into him anywhere but in the office. The only reason people don't speculate that he lives there is because they see him drive in and park in the same spot at the same time each morning. Him keeping to himself isn't really an antisocial thing, but more so that he's there to work so would rather just get on with whatever he has to do with minimal distractions. He's an efficient man and doesn't like people stealing his attention away from any sort of deadline.

Then along comes this slight change in the office layout and suddenly your desk has been moved directly next to his. Surprise had left you stunned for a moment when Milo greeted you that first morning before sitting down and getting himself set up for the working day. He still never offered much conversation, just the usual 'good morning' and 'have a good evening' as you both left the office. It wasn't until you both stayed behind a little late one Friday evening to finish some paperwork before the weekend and he'd stricken up a conversation while walking back to your cars. It was mostly small talk, nothing of too much substance, but it was far more than he gave anyone else. If you ask, he simply answers that until the clock hits around 5pm, he's at work. Once he's left the office building, he's just normal Milo again. It's his way of separating work and his personal life. Honestly, his work/life balance is enviable.

Over time, as you grow closer, he'll start to chat more during office hours. Asking what you thought of a recent episode of a show, if you'd seen the news about an upcoming game. And your closeness wouldn't go unnoticed. You'll get coworkers whispering to you on your lunch break asking to share some information since they'd barely seen Milo speak with anyone else so openly before. You'd always politely decline, telling them he never really shared anything special and it was mostly just work related things—a white lie, of course, but what they didn't know didn't hurt them. Milo would appreciate it too, often voicing his complaints about the busybodies in the office not so subtly whispering about him. He didn't care too much about their speculations of him until they started dragging you into it too. Grumpy Milo grumbling into his coffee cup asking why they cared so much anyway. Who cares who he speaks to at work (He cares. But he won't tell you that).

♡ rory ♡

Rory at any given moment in time will take the opportunity to complain about something that has happened in the office that day. Whether it's someone not submitting documents on time or somebody emailing him with any extra set of tasks on top of his already stacked workload, he will be sending you a string of messages to blow off some steam. The first time it'd happened, you were sitting in the break room enjoying your lunch when Rory slumped into the chair next to you and signed so heavily you thought something terrible had happened and he was barely keeping himself together. As it had turned out, a new intern had done something without running it by anyone else first and caused a particularly big problem. One that Rory's manager decided would be his responsibility to resolve before the day's end. As well as meet his own deadlines for the same evening. To say he was stressed was an understatement. So Rory had taken solace in your quiet presence and let out his frustrations. Once he'd gotten it all out of his system, he apologised for the outburst and introduced himself, realising the two of you had never actually spoken before. He then offered to lend a listening ear for your own work annoyances, attentively taking it all in while you spoke. Once your lunch break came to an end, you exchanged contacts with the promise that you could be each other's dedicated work therapist whenever someone or something had pissed you off.

From that point on, you'd receive the odd message here and there throughout the day from Rory with the latest complaint. At first, it was just a way to get the annoyances off your chests but as time went on, conversations started to meander and before long you were becoming closer and closer. You didn't see each other much while working—only ever in passing if you needed to deliver a document to a different department or if there was a meeting you needed to attend. Your texts were your main point of contact with Rory until he suggested you start coordinating your lunch breaks so that you could actually hang out face-to-face rather than via text message. Coworkers would definitely start to speculate how and why these two individuals from completely different departments became friends or if there was something more to the relationship. Especially considering Rory, much like Milo, was more reserved and didn't really show much of an effort to become friends with the people he worked with. He was amicable enough but kept the colleague boundary up like a wall. Except with you, anyway.

I think Rory would want to extend your work friendship beyond office hours and would start wanting to text you later in the evening but is so nervous to come across as being too forward. He likes to act as though he's a very nonchalant person but he really isn't at all. Especially not where you are concerned. So you'd definitely need to be the one to nudge and initiate more of a friendship between you both. It wouldn't take much. All you'd need to do was text him one Saturday morning and mention how you were planning for a bookshop trip and as if he wanted to come along. He texts back almost instantly with a big 'YES' followed immediately by a 'glad you've finally recognised my superior taste in books' purely to save face for how eager he must have seemed. Would come into the office on the Monday with red cheeks once he saw you in the staff car park and try to sound as normal as possible commenting on how he had a good weekend. For his own sanity, just go along with it. He begs.

♡ alexei ♡

Alexei is the new starter who doesn't have a whole lot of office experience under his belt. He's bright eyed and eager to learn on the job but is also somewhat nervous to make mistakes or ask too many questions. It takes him a little while to settle in and feel fully comfortable with his surroundings but once he does, Alexei starts to really flourish. Once he knows you're happy to answer all of his questions and won't scold him for not understanding something straight way, he will come to you with an entire monologue of queries he wants to clarify. Literally rambles this long stream of consciousness before reaching the end of his list and looking at you all expectantly for your response. Listens so intently while he's perched on his desk chair, scribbling down notes as you run through everything he'd asked. Then turns back to his computer screen with a 'thank you' and then doesn't say another word for like two hours. He'll just be typing and clicking away with this intense focus until you have to tap on his shoulder and remind him to take a break from the screen for a few minutes. Will struggle to pull himself away for breaks because once he's in the zone he is IN. He only really likes stepping away from his desk when he has reached a good stopping point and he absolutely hates leaving a task partially finished.

I don't think Alexei would be a super social person at work. It wouldn't be for any particular reason other than the thought didn't really occur to him? He prefers to take his breaks at his desk because his chair is comfortable enough so the only people he really talks to on the regular are the people he works with directly. Being new, he hasn't had much of a reason to visit the other departments nor has he been brought on to any big projects that would have him meeting and working with anyone else around the office. Even after he's been there for a little while, he's reached a point where he feels awkward introducing himself because he's not exactly new anymore but he also doesn't know a lot of names. Whenever there's an office party or holiday event, Alexei will turn and whisper to you asking who that was or to remind him of a name. He could have had a good ten minute conversation with someone who and not had a single clue as to what their name was. It makes for some funny encounters, especially if it's someone not well liked within the office. They'd strike up a conversation just for Alexei to clearly not know who they are. We love to see it.

After Alexei has been working in the office for a few months and has gotten nicely settled in his job, I can see him being really welcoming to a new starter. In the same way you answered all his questions and helped him along with his training, Alexei would do the same for the new person. He might come across a little too excited with how forthcoming he is with explanations or offers to help out with anything they're struggling with but it's clear that he means well. He's just a little enthusiastic!! Would also start to add little decorations on his desk. He doesn't do anything too special, but he might have a tiny figurine of a jellyfish sat under his monitor and would have themed notepads and matching pens to go with them. If he's going to spend most of his day there, he wants it to feel like it's his personal little corner.

♡ brooklyn ♡

Brooklyn is the high ranking manager CEO businessman who is also one of the most likable people around the office. Despite him always being seen in his signature suits and ties with some sort of important document in hand at any given moment, he was genuinely pleased to speak with anyone working there. He has his moments of being the stern business type, particularly when in stressful meetings to discuss the company's performance for the quarter and their targets for the next quarter. Overall, however, he remains a generally calming presence. If you were his assistant, he'd try to alleviate as much of the pressure of the role as he could. He knew he was a painfully busy man and that you had no end of meetings to schedule, companies to contact for collaborations and partnerships. There was never really an end to your workload for which he felt a tad guilty. Anytime you entered his private office, reeling off the schedule for the afternoon or informing him of a visitor who had arrived to meet with him, Brooklyn is offering to make you a cup of tea or coffee no matter how many times you insist that that's your job, not his. He never listens.

I think he'd take a lot of interest in you as a person too, not wanting there to be this distinct barrier of boss and employee. He would much rather you both felt you stood on equal ground. That mindset had gotten him into some mild altercations in meetings when other company executives had made some sort of snide comment regarding your involvement in the discussions. Brooklyn wasn't going to stand for one of his most trusted and hardworking colleagues to be taken for granted. The strained tension never left the boardroom until a few minutes after the meeting ended and Brooklyn stormed out looking angrier than you'd ever seen him. Would be silent as he poured himself a cup of tea and then give you this serious talk about how if that were to ever happen without him around report it to him immediately. His expression was much sterner that you'd experienced from all your time working directly with Brooklyn, but it was evident that it came from a place of respect. And he explained as much as he leaned against his desk, pinching the spot between his brows as if the encounter had given him a headache.

There had never been any repeat instances following that afternoon, though you had overheard some whispers about the incident. Mostly from people surprised to hear that Brooklyn had raised his voice. Anytime you commented on it while presenting him with new paperwork, Brooklyn would adjust his tie awkwardly, face heating at the lack of composure he'd now exposed to the office. He took pride in coming across in a well-presented and calm manner so this one lapse of his self-restraint made him feel a touch embarrassed each time he was reminded of the event; in those moments he seemed less like the important business figure and more like a close friend you could playfully tease in passing moments between the busy hours. It was a comfortable and welcomed dynamic for the both of you.

♡ tobias ♡

Tobias is without a doubt the office socialite. He's always popping his head into the different departments with a request or to catch up after the weekend. He reminds me of someone I work with who is incredibly easy going and is friends with basically everyone in the office. Tobias can have a tendency to cause disruptions in that his voice will carry in an office room and he doesn't really realise how much of a distraction his presence can be sometimes. He doesn't mean to pull people away from anything important! But he also can't really help himself when it's the middle of the week and he's got all kinds of work adjacent stories to be shared. Will perch himself on your desk and start rambling away about something, not really noticing if you were paying him your full attention or not. It's only after he asks you a question and you noncommittally answer with a vague 'yes' that he'll start whining about how you're not listening to him. As much as we'd like to chat, some of us have work to do, Tobias. When you question him about his own work, Tobias will conveniently remember he needs to be somewhere else, dodging the question entirely and scampering away to a different department. There is usually a shaking of heads that follows after Tobias whenever he dashes off somewhere else—it's always from a place of endearing acceptance.

I can see Tobias being involved in the marketing side of a business. Definitely the one to organise big events and staff parties. He needs someone to rein him in though because some of his ideas aren't quite workplace or coworker friendly. He hears office party and thinks hell yeah time to go wild go crazy but no Tobias please the last time that happened you broke multiple office chairs we can't afford to keep replacing them every time. Would enlist you for help too because you're his favourite person to bother at work. Whether you humour him and play along or tell him to, light heartedly, leave you alone, Tobias will find his way to your desk for some quality catchup time. What do you mean it's Monday and you're busy? He needs to tell you about this movie he saw on Saturday that he thinks should be the theme of the next work event. He's also the type to bring food to your desk too. Will sometimes just buy lunch for you and pry your hands away from your keyboard so that he can slide a salad or pot of pasta into your grasp. Tobias takes lunch breaks very seriously. He'll also get treats for people in the office too! Buys little cakes or chocolates just because. This is part of the reason why everyone likes him so much; can't say no to a man who keeps you well fed.

Despite poking fun at Tobias being a bit more lax around the office, I think he genuinely would be full of solid ideas and he does feel pretty passionate about certain aspects of the job too. His work/life balance isn't perfect in that he tends to prioritise life a little more than he should sometimes but there's little harm in it. He's a very good person to be around if you're the type to get a bit too wrapped up in working. Tobias is NOT letting you overwork yourself. Not on his watch!! He's a surprisingly perceptive person and can very easily tell when you're stressed or not getting as much sleep as you should. Will take it upon himself to text you at the weekend to hang out and have a movie night with him. That way he can make sure you're relaxing and not spending your limited time off working your brain. Will steal your phone directly from your hands if you're staring too hard, eyebrows furrowed, and will replace it with a snack and gently remind you that it's the weekend time not work time. He has his uses sometimes.

[brookesophelias]

poor kitty-girl!!!

"What was pictured so clearly to Kitty in the mirror of Anna’s face she saw in him. What had become of his always self-possessed resolute manner, & the carelessly serene expression of his face? Now every time he turned to her, he bent his head, as though he would have fallen at her feet, & in his eyes there was nothing but humble submission and dread."

ANNA JUST STOLE HER MAN!! where is her husband????

[mylyy]

 Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina (1877).

[vronskies]

anna karenina (2012)

[edwardian-girl-next-door]

"He was offended for the first instant, but the very same second he felt that he could not be offended by her, that she was himself. He felt for the first moment as a man feels when, having suddenly received a violent blow from behind, turns around, angry and eager to avenge himself, to look for his antagonist, and finds that it is he himself who has accidentally struck himself, that there was no one to be angry with, and that he must put up with and try to soothe the pain."

art: "The Soirée" by Jean Béraud

quote: Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, transl. Constance Garnett, Leonard J. Kent and Nina Berberova

[ace-of-garlic-breads]

Please don't ask how much school/homework I avoided to get this finished. this actually took less time then I thought. but it was still a long time not all of them are my characters, Oliver, Amelia(the mouse) and Felix (the cat) aren't mine, they're @babblingbonnabel's @sharedink au characters. the rest are my So Highschool characters

all of Summer's friendship bracelets took FOREVER.

[nikkiruncks]

Just finished a holiday drabble for tmp

[aestheeredie]

Angel

➳ Alexei Vronksy & Reader

➳ Fluff

꒷︶꒷꒥꒷‧₊˚꒷︶꒷꒥꒷‧₊˚ •┈┈┈•┈┈┈•┈┈┈•┈┈┈•┈┈┈•┈┈┈＊┈┈┈┈

꒷︶꒷꒥꒷‧₊˚꒷︶꒷꒥꒷‧₊˚ •┈┈┈•┈┈┈•┈┈┈•┈┈┈•┈┈┈•┈┈┈＊┈┈┈┈

The first light of dawn filtered gently through the curtains, casting a soft golden hue across the room. The early morning stillness was only broken by the distant chirping of birds welcoming a new day. You stirred slightly, feeling the warmth beside you. Slowly, you opened your eyes to the sight that never failed to take your breath away.

Alexei lay next to you, his features bathed in the delicate glow of the morning sun. His golden hair shimmered like a halo, and his face, so serene in sleep, looked almost angelic. You watched him for a moment, your heart swelling with a tender affection that seemed to grow with each passing day.

Unable to resist, you reached out and gently brushed a stray lock of hair from his forehead. Your touch was light, but it was enough to make him stir. Slowly, his eyes fluttered open, revealing the ocean eyes that always made you feel at home.

"Good morning," he murmured, his voice still husky with sleep. A slow, sleepy smile spread across his lips as he looked at you, his eyes filled with a deep, abiding love.

"Good morning," you replied softly, your hand still resting on his cheek. "Did you sleep well?"

"How could I not?" he replied, his smile widening. "Waking up next to you is the most wonderful feeling in the world."

You felt a blush creep up your cheeks at his words, and you snuggled closer to him, resting your head against his chest. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat was a comforting melody, one that you had grown to love more than anything.

Alexei wrapped his arms around you, holding you close. "The sunlight suits you," he whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of your head. "It makes you look like an angel."

You laughed softly, the sound muffled against his chest. "I was just thinking the same about you."

He chuckled, a low, rich sound that made your heart flutter. "If I'm an angel, then I must have done something right to deserve waking up with you every morning."

You looked up at him, your eyes meeting his. The love and adoration in his gaze made your heart swell. "And I must have done something right to have you in my life," you said softly.

He leaned down and kissed you, a sweet, lingering kiss that spoke of promises and dreams. When he pulled back, his eyes sparkled with a playful glint. "How about we spend the day together? Just the two of us."

"I'd love that," you replied, your heart skipping a beat at the thought. "What did you have in mind?"

"Oh, I have a few ideas," he said with a mischievous smile. "But for now, let's just stay like this a little longer."

You nodded, perfectly content to stay in his arms. The world outside could wait. In this moment, it was just the two of you, wrapped up in each other's arms and love.

As you lay there, the morning sun continuing to bathe the room in its golden light, you felt a deep sense of peace and happiness. No matter what the future held, you knew that as long as you had Alexei by your side, everything would be alright.

꒷︶꒷꒥꒷‧₊˚꒷︶꒷꒥꒷‧₊˚ •┈┈┈•┈┈┈•┈┈┈•┈┈┈•┈┈┈•┈┈┈＊┈┈┈┈

[nyrasbloodyclover]

I have been looking for someone who writes for Count Vronsky for so long now 😩💔😭

I think we're soulmates 🤭💓🔥

FATE BROUGHT US TOGETHER FR!!!!😩💓

[sailxrmxrs]

guess who had a week off work and took it as an opportunity to go wild go crazy over some friends to lovers thoughts. i always forget how hard the trope hits until i think about it for more than five minutes and realise that it is so so good and brainrot worthy. partially inspired by some crumbs in the vf server but also plucked from the depths of my brain. i'm a little rusty with fic writing bc of other projects on the go but here's hoping something decent comes out of it lmao. rory's was a little dialogue heavy but we move. expect some childhood friends to lovers, roommates au and more hehe. enjoy and see u in like three months lmao.

 ♡ leo ♡

“It really has been way too long, hasn’t it?” Leo said with a shy smile, awkwardly adjusting the cap atop his head. The two of you were eating lunch together after almost two years of not seeing each other. Adulthood meant more distance and less time to find a way back to one another so you both just let things drift as they may. Then, that one fateful afternoon you bumped into one another, got talking, and made plans to see each other the following week. It was like the world had offered you both a second chance at continuing what remained of your friendship and all the feelings that came with it. There was a lot of history, a lot of memories, and a lot of messy emotions left over from your younger years that hadn’t quietened down quite as much as you thought they had. But that was okay. Things with Leo were always easy, his sunshine disposition always making it easy to be around him, no matter how tangled your mind may be.

The day you first met, you were both too young to have a complete grasp on language, yet as you stumbled around the playground together, Leo was all smiles. Friendship followed fast, tirelessly asking to visit that same park playground each week to see the other. And every time without fail, you’d be in your own little bubble with Leo, running and laughing together like time didn’t exist. The world didn’t exist. It was only you and Leo. And as the summer months passed and it grew too cold to play around outside, his parents would drive him to visit. You’d be sat in your childhood bedroom with all kinds of clutter scattered about the floor and Leo would be asking you to show him how a certain toy worked or if you could draw something for him. Your parents would watch on, whispering about how they could easily see what your shared futures had in store. Even then, they could see a special kind of friendship was beginning to blossom.

And they had been right. Leo had remained a precious part of your life for many years following from childhood. Even as teenagers, Leo barely left your side. You were a perfect pair. So much so, that it wasn’t uncommon to come home from running an errand and find him sitting on your sofa as if he lived there too. With the amount of time he spent at your home—and you his—it did feel like it was equal parts his home too. Even if that meant him stealing more than a few snacks each week. But it was as time went on, that your friendship with Leo started to feel like something else. It was like you were more than close friends, but not quite romantically entangled. Leo had never shown any inclination that he was interested in anyone that way, yet your friendship with him was unlike any other friendship you had. You were content with how things were, even if a part of you pondered the what-ifs and could-bes if you dared to tread that water.

As time went on and adulthood approached, it became harder and harder to stay so impossibly close. Life plans pulled you apart and soon, weeks would pass before you’d see Leo again. At first, there were constant streams of texts and phone calls but time, too, chipped away until they were days, weeks, months apart. You tried to convince yourself that this was another part of growing up, that you would see each other again and everything would go back to the way it was. But it never quite felt the same. There would be an almost awkward energy hovering over your shoulder, whispering in your ear how you were no longer as dear to him as you once were. And, eventually, everything just stopped.

“I blame life. Also us for being bad at keeping in touch. But mostly life,” you replied. “I see your choice in fashion hasn’t changed since we were teenagers.” You nodded towards Leo’s cap. If memory served you well, it was the very same hat you’d bought for him one birthday. He’d immediately put it on and proclaimed he would never take it off.

“What can I say? When your favourite person buys you something, it’s hard to part with it.”

“Oh? Your favourite person? What an honour. Do I still hold that title or have I lost my job?” You had an idea of what the answer might be, knowing it might reopen old wounds, but you couldn’t stop the words from tumbling out.

“I’m not sure you could ever lose that one.” Leo looked almost wistful as he spoke, fingers toying with a napkin on the table. He spoke quieter than before, his energy lowering at the admission that he still cared for you as deeply as ever. “I wasn’t lying as a kid when I said you were my favourite. Always.”

You shifted in your seat. “Good. Because you’re my favourite too still.”

His smile grew as he outstretched a hand for you to take—if you wanted. Without hesitation, you let your hand find Leo’s, fitting as perfectly as it always had. And this time around, neither of you planned to let go.

 ♡ milo ♡

Living with Milo had certainly been one of the more adventurous decisions you’d made. You were in need of a new roommate to fill the newly empty room when Leo had passed you the number to one of his friends in need of a place to stay. He’d invited both you and Milo to coffee one day and that had been that. Contracts were signed, belongings moved in, and you were living with what was essentially a total stranger. Even within the first few months of him being there, you still felt like Milo was a stranger. His work hours and yours seemed to exist on opposite spectrums, meaning you never really got a chance to see him. The weekends were really the only times you were both at home together, but even then, Milo didn’t spend much time at home. He’d either be holed up in his room working on something, or he’d be out and about meeting his friends. He was a strangely busy man who didn’t know how to slow down. But you didn’t really mind all that much. When he was home, he was quiet and he didn’t leave any mess or clutter lying about. In essence, he was the perfect roommate, even if you did hope to grow a little closer to him given that you barely knew more than his name and a few surface level facts about him.

It all started to change one rainy weekend. The weather outside was abysmal. Cold and raining so heavy you could barely see a few feet in front of you from how hard it was pouring down. Even Milo couldn’t go outside in conditions like that. So he stayed home. And, in a change of pace, spent almost the entire day stretched across the sofa, tv quietly switching between shows. You were stood in the kitchen, making yourself a warm drink when Milo let out a disgruntled groan.

“Doing okay over there, Milo?” You called out to him, amused by his almost feline disposition.

“No. Bored.” He sat up, hair slightly mussed from where he’d laid against a cushion. “Any recommendations for shit movies? You know, the ones so bad they’re good?”

Walking over, you planted yourself down on the sofa next to him, reaching to grab the remote. “I saw some trailer last week that looked disgustingly bad. I think it came out yesterday or something. Fair warning, it looked like an actual trainwreck.”

“Perfect. Think I’ve got some popcorn hidden away somewhere.”

That night had sparked a new tradition between you and Milo. Now, every Saturday night the two of you would sit together and watch a terrible movie, spending the entire time laughing and pointing out ridiculous plot holes or poorly written dialogue. Each week you’d alternate between who got to choose, usually opting for something bad, but every now and then you’d discover a hidden gem that left you both holding back tears. It was fun to have something to look forward to every week, and the friendship that developed with Milo was like the cherry on top of an already ornate cake. And sometimes long after the movie had ended, you’d both be sat there together, sharing a blanket and replenishing cups of tea, talking long into the night. It would get to the very early hours of Sunday morning and you’d be struggling to hold back a yawn when Milo laughed and instructed you off to bed like a child scolded by their parent. Some nights when you were feeling more obstinate, Milo would come and lift you, carrying you off to your room where he’d unceremoniously toss you onto your bed and leave, calling a ‘good night’ as he made for his own room.

Somewhere along the way, as the longing for friendship faded as you grew closer with Milo, a new sense of longing decided to make itself known. You weren’t able to exactly pinpoint when those feelings became less platonic and tinged with something else, but all you knew was that it didn’t exactly bode well when you lived under the same roof as him. The options were to either ignore and pretend all was as normal, or you could pose the question and be a little more honest with him. Neither felt like the right decision. But one night, as Milo was turning the lights down for the night’s movie of choice, one you’d both agreed upon together, and he handed you the bowl of popcorn and got to making your favourite drink, all without needing to ask, you knew you were deep in it. Fearing your own sense of self, you edged further away from Milo’s spot and distracted yourself by looking at your phone.

“Nope. Not getting away with that one.” Milo’s voice came from behind you, pulling your phone from your grasp. There was a strict ‘no phones’ rule during movie nights that you were suddenly regretting agreeing to. Milo sat himself down, pulling a blanket over his legs when he noticed that you were further away from usual. The man was far too perceptive for his own good. And so he leaned over, sliding an arm around you and pulling you back closer to him.

“What are you doing?” You asked, unsure exactly where to look with him so close.

“Getting comfortable. I recommend you do the same.” Milo didn’t say anything further on the matter, though you noted the arm that had pulled you closer was now draped over your shoulders. This was new. But you liked it. And, as it seemed, Milo did too.

 ♡ rory ♡

“Did you want to go find somewhere to eat soon?” It was late afternoon and you had spent the best part of the day with Rory after a surprise text from him. He usually wasn’t the type to instigate last minute plans, enjoying his time off whenever he could get it. But he’d clearly had a change of heart when he texted about a new book release he was wanting to go and look for, inviting you along in the process to hang out for the day. He’d been as evasive as ever when you questioned the change of heart when it came to making plans, instead offering an iced coffee and croissant he’d bought shortly before you arrived. He claimed he was just ‘feeling generous’ but you knew Rory secretly liked to surprise people with gifts—even if they were in the form of a snack.

“You’ve truly mastered the art of subtlety, haven’t you?” His voice was pure sarcasm as he crossed his arms, staring you down with an unamused expression. “But yes, food is good. That place Tobias kept going on about is just round the corner, right?”

You nodded, flicking through the group chat to find exactly where Tobias had recommended after Rory sent a photo of you to show you were both hanging out. It was a fairly small place, one he’d found on one of his ‘Tobias ventures’ where he let his nose and stomach take him to wherever smelt the best place. So far he hadn’t disappointed with his choices. “Yeah, looks like it’s a left past here and then should be on the right.”

“Don’t tell him it was my idea to listen to him. I still haven’t lived it down after the last time.”

“Sure. Your secret is safe with me,” you replied, fully intending on passing the message along to the group chat. “Now come on, I’m hungry.” You reached for Rory’s hand to make your way for the restaurant, happily ready to stroll along when Rory’s unmoving rigidness made you stop in your tracks. “Helloooo? Earth to Rory. We’re going to that restaurant now, right?” You turned in confusion, trying to see what was holding him up.

Rory cleared his throat before he answered, his cheeks having turned a slight reddish pink. “Right. But, uh, what are you doing?”

“What do you mean ‘what am I doing?’ I’m just…going. Like we said.” Rory shifted on his feet. You waited a moment for him to speak, but he didn’t seem to be particularly forthcoming with his words just yet. Eyes scanning his body for any noticeable difference, your gaze landed on where your hand still held his, sparking a lightbulb to flash in your brain. “Oh? Are you blushing because I held your hand? How cute.”

His eyes widened for a split second. He had turned almost skittish in mere moments. “Yeah, sure, whatever. But why are you holding it, dumbass?” The surprise of it all wore off quickly, one of his favourite nicknames for you rolling off the tongue with apparent ease. Or he was just trying to hide how flustered he’d gotten. Or both.

“Because we are walking to the same place? And it’s busy so I’d rather not lose you in the crowd. What’s got you so worked up anyway, hm? Been that long since someone held your hand?” You couldn’t help but tease, especially after catching him looking a little too longingly at the romance section in the bookshop you’d visited earlier. It was pretty sweet how much of a hopeless romantic he was, despite his best efforts to hide it.

Rory scoffed, the blush now having spread all over his cheeks and to the tips of his ears. He really was easy to get worked up. He looked away, voice mumbling as he spoke,” No. But other people holding my hand isn’t quite the same as you holding it.”

You froze, not sure if you’d heard him correctly. He’d said it so quietly and there were a lot of people around so it was an easy mistake to make. But what if your ears hadn’t misheard? “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing. Let’s just go before my stomach starts shouting for food.” He tried to set off, hand still in yours, but you weren’t letting him run away so easily. Not when he was so clearly deflecting. You wanted to say something, though the words didn’t seem to want to come out.

Rory sighed, his hand in yours fidgeting a little but ultimately holding a tiny bit tighter. “This isn’t a conversation to have in public. Or a busy restaurant. Putting a pin in it then we can talk later.”

“And I’m taking the pin right out. Rory, we’re best friends. You can tell me anything. If not here then we just go home and talk.”

“What if us being best friends is the issue?”

Your brows furrowed. What on earth was the man talking about? “You want us to stop being friends? I’m really not following here, Rory.”

“No, it’s not that. Just…I don’t know how to say it without saying it.”

“That does not help me.”

“I know.” He exhaled. “I’m sorry I’m being awkward about this. I hadn’t exactly planned for this conversation but, do you ever think about us as something other than friends?”

“You mean…”

“Yeah. I do.” Rory’s hand felt somehow even warmer in yours. There was something akin to worry in his eyes, as though you might suddenly pull away and never speak to him again. You couldn’t fathom the idea.

You smiled, one that you hoped might reassure him and quell his concerns. “It’s a nice thought. Really nice. One we can dwell on over dinner?”

 ♡ alexei ♡

The summer heat was unrelenting as you taped up another cardboard box in the bedroom of Alexei’s apartment. He was moving to a different part of the city and had called in a favour to help with packing his things up one weekend. He had, in turn, managed to pick one of the warmest days to prepare for moving, a decision you had were already planning to get him back for. But, in spite of the heat crawling over your skin, it was nice to spend the time with Alexei. With how busy the both of you were, finding time where your schedules aligned proved to be a little more than difficult. But fate had been kind and given you both a weekend to see each other and reminisce on all the memories stored in every corner of Alexei’s home. There were photos and mementos of trips from over the years, little snapshots of times you’d somehow forgotten. It was easy to forget there was ever a time before the two of you became friends, the years having disappeared in what felt like no time at all.

You were holding a fridge magnet that Alexei had bought on a trip to the beach one summer. It was a roundish pinkish-orange shell, with two small chips at the edge from where it had been knocked off his fridge more times than you could count. He’d chosen to move it into his bedroom after he knocked off the shell magnet along with another and the other had not survived the fall. There were so many little stories scattered around the apartment. It felt sad to be saying goodbye to them, even if you knew there plenty more ahead in his new place. Not to mention the items were all going with him. Still, there were years of laughter and love painted into the pale walls that could never be retrieved nor relived again.

“Feeling sentimental over there?” Alexei’s voice sounded from the doorway, an empty cardboard box in his hands. He placed it down by a pile of clothes he had been sorting before coming to sit beside you, his usual gentle smile adorning his face.

“A little. It’s nice to see all this stuff again. I forgot about way too much of it.”

Alexei hummed, reaching for a photo of the two of you sharing a large bag of popcorn. You’d both been excited over the movie’s trailer and had expected it to sell out, only to get there and be the only two people in the screening. No other trip to the cinema had been quite the same as getting to laugh and react as loudly as you wanted together in front of the giant screen. Alexei had tried to toss popcorn kernels into his mouth and failed miserably most times. Then, as the credits were rolling, you took a commemorative photo to remember the one and only time you got so lucky at a movie showing.

“If you really want to go down memory lane, you should have a look at this,” he said, reaching over for a dark blue book. It had nothing on the cover to indicate what might have been inside, but he handed it to you, beaming.

“What’s this?”

“Just open it. Nothing’s going to jump out at you.” You weren’t sure if you should trust that comment. But, in spite of that, you opened the cover to see a myriad of tickets and receipts. It was a scrapbook from all the events, outings, and days you’d spent with Alexei. There was a rain-damaged handout from when you’d visited a local petting zoo; there was a little ticket from the time you beat Alexei at a mini golf course; there was token he’d accidentally pocketed from an arcade and forgotten to give back. Alexei had felt extra guilty about that one. It was filled with fragments of your friendship, a storyboard of your life together laid out on the pages.

Then you turned the page once more to see a single flower, preserved from being pressed between the pages. Around it were all kinds of Alexei-style notes detailing the exact species of flower with all kinds of facts about it. There was also a little paragraph in the top corner, explaining why this particular flower was his favourite. Because you had picked it and presented it to him as a little gift one day while you were out on a picnic. And you had been smiling. Your smile was his favourite, so that meant the flower was now his favourite because it had been infused with the image of your smile. It had little monetary value, nor did you ever expect him to keep it. You’d thought he would have just left it in the grass or tried to replant it so it didn’t die, not dedicate an entire two-page spread to commemorate this one small yellow wildflower. When you looked up, Alexei’s cheeks were a bright pink.

“I forgot that page was there…” His voice trailed off, eyes averting away from where you looked at him.

“Seems we’re both getting nice little reminders of the past, aren’t we?”

Alexei nodded, the movement awkward and stiff. “I’ll, uh, go back to sorting those clothes—” He tried to get up and away, only to be pulled back down by you reaching for the hem of his jumper.

“No running away from this one,” you teased, throwing yourself at him to wrap your arms around his neck in a tight hug. “This is really sweet. I love you. A lot.”

“Love? As in…”

“Yes, you idiot.”  

 ♡ brooklyn ♡

Rain gently pattered against the window of Brooklyn’s home, the view of the city obscured by water droplets. It was the perfect accompanying backdrop to the sound of pianos and violins coming from the two speakers either side of his television. The air had a slight chill to it, the rain having sapped all warmth out of the atmosphere. Brooklyn had been quick to procure a blanket to drape over both of your legs and brew a pot of tea to share while silently reading together. Since befriending Brooklyn, it had become common practice to spend time at either his home or yours, reading something the other had recommended or simply enjoying some quiet time in one another’s presence. You’d met some months ago thanks to a mutual friend introducing you both and, after realising you were neighbours, a close friendship had blossomed and bloomed into what it was today. That same friend who’d introduced you would often ask after Brooklyn, sometimes hinting at something other than friendship between the both of you. There was always a flustered awkwardness in your denials and adamance that there was nothing of the sort going on between you and him. Brooklyn was not the easiest character to read, his warm smiles and gentle movements barely an indication of any secret feelings of devotion he might be keeping close to his chest. Even now, with a shared blanket covering your legs and his, knees lightly touching, you couldn’t quite tell if he’d orchestrated the closeness merely for warmth or for any other reason.

Either way, the proximity felt far more intimate than it usually did. It was comfortable. So comfortable, in fact, that you could feel your eyelids growing heavier and heavier by the second. You didn’t want to fall asleep, especially not so close to Brooklyn, but your control over your consciousness was gradually waning thin.

“Is my company really that tiresome? Or was it the book? Although I do believe I was the one to give it to you,” Brooklyn teased, his thumb playing with the corner of the page of his own book.

A gentle wave of guilt fluttered in your stomach as you sat up a little straighter. “Not at all. I blame the tea.”

He chuckled, turning his attention back to his book. “If you need to rest, then please, be my guest.” As if there were some magical power in his words, the drowsiness in your eyes rooted itself even deeper and before you knew it, you had drifted off into sleep. What you did not know, however, was that your head had found itself resting on Brooklyn’s shoulder, having gravitated toward the nearest warm spot. Brooklyn was hardly shocked at the sight of you sleeping, but that still didn’t stop his cheeks from warming in turn. He waited there for a moment, hesitating to see if you would gain consciousness again before he moved. But after no sign of waking, he carefully slotted a bookmark between the book’s pages so as not to jostle you too much. His hand gently pressed to your cheek, lifting your head from his shoulder so he could stand and help lay down your sleeping body, moving your legs so that you were completely sprawled out across his sofa. He adjusted the blanket to cover you entirely and stood, watching for a short moment with an absentminded smile on his face. He did not mind at all that you had fallen asleep, only pleased that you felt comfortable enough in his presence to let yourself rest so deeply.

Brooklyn ran the back of his fingers softly across your cheek and leaned to press a featherlight kiss to your temple, not wanting to disturb you yet feeling compelled over the gentle gesture. As he pulled away to sit himself on another armchair, Brooklyn’s eyes widened as he felt a grasp clutch at his wrist and lazily pull at his arm. He tried to pry your fingers from his wrist but had no such luck.

“Naptime for you too,” you mumbled sleepily, barely awake with your eyes still closed. Brooklyn was torn with indecision. A part of him thought this was a bad idea—that it would be too much for his heart to bear once the moment ended. But another, much larger part of him, was tempted beyond all desire. He wanted to; he really did. So he let himself give in. He slid beneath the blanket and let his arm fall atop your waist. Brooklyn barely breathed being so close to you. It wasn’t until he felt you nestling your face into the crook of his neck that he finally let his resolve shatter. He could figure out his feelings and what this all meant later on. He would happily wait for another day to share the feelings that simmered so deep in his stomach every time his gaze landed on you. All that mattered in this moment, was how your legs were tangled together beneath the blanket, and how your fingers sleepily clutched at his shirt. For Brooklyn, this was more than enough as sleep slowly found him.

 ♡ tobias ♡

Some weeks had passed since the last time you saw Tobias. With his job, travelling was no rare occurrence. He’d been on a plane to the other side of the country one day and then flying somewhere else a few days later. It was a lifestyle he loved, getting to travel all over while getting paid. What wasn’t to love? The main downside being away from home so much meant being away from you, a longtime friend and supporter of Tobias as he started out on his less conventional career path. Yours was a friendship he treasured, frequently sending updates and blurry, zoomed in photos of his face so you didn’t forget what he looked like after a couple of weeks away. He left sleepy voice notes telling you he missed you, drowsily recounting his day’s events before his voice trailed off and the voice note came to an end as he passed out in his hotel room. He’d often find little gifts or souvenirs that reminded him of you, wrapping them all messily in tissue paper and keeping them in a box labelled with your name so he didn’t lose them or forget to give them to you once he returned. Tobias would ignore your protests that you didn’t need any gifts, enjoying your embarrassed smile every time you opened one up to see a painfully touristy t-shirt or funny little keychain.

“It’s basically tradition at this point,” he’d argue, folding his arms and turning his nose away. He wasn’t hearing any of your excuses. But it was all in good fun, quickly reaching for another ridiculous gift he’d found and tossing it your way. It really had become a tradition at this point. A rather sweet one, too.

Tobias had been away from home for almost two months now. It was one of the longest trips away he’d ever had and despite his frequent updates, you could still feel the long stretch of time as acute as ever. You didn’t let on just how much you missed him, knowing he’d only tease you about how you could barely survive without him, or that he was just that amazing of a person. He’d no doubt try and laugh off that you must harbour secret feelings for him. Although not entirely untrue, you weren’t going to tempt fate by letting him pose that question, even as a joke. It didn’t hit exactly how much you missed his amusing playfulness until you were driving to the airport to pick him up, anticipation bubbling and fizzing in your chest. Your fingertips tingled as you clutched the steering wheel, barely able to focus on much else other than getting there as fast as the road would allow you. His flight was due to land in about thirty minutes and you wanted to be there ready and waiting with his favourite starbucks order in hand.

Standing in the arrivals lounge felt agonisingly long. Watching waves of people come through and none of them being Tobias felt like tiny needles pinching at your heart. You were checking your phone every few seconds, waiting and watching for an ‘I’m home!’ text that he’d usually send. Nothing. Pocketing it again, you looked up to see the next group of people coming through, all unfamiliar faces. Exhaling a deep breath, you shifted on your feet when a pair of airs wrapped around you from behind. A small squeal of shock came from you, loud laughter erupting from the person who had assailed you. A laugh you could recognise anywhere.

“Tobias Fox, you are paying for parking for near giving me a heart attack.” Your heart was racing, almost pounding out of your chest as you turned to Tobias, gently shoving him away from you. “And I’m keeping this drink now. No presents for you.”

He tried, and failed, to quell his laughter. “Aww, come on, don’t be mean. It’s been two months and I just got off a really long flight so shouldn’t you be extra nice to me?”

“No.”

Tobias poked your forehead. “Boring. If I ask nicely, do I get an actual ‘welcome back’ hug?”

“Maybe.” Before you could even finish uttering out the word, Tobias’ arms engulfed you again, holding you close as onlookers smiled to themselves. His hold was warm and all-encompassing, the two of you barely moving as if time had frozen. His cheek felt hot pressed against yours, his breath tickling the tip of your ear.

“I missed you,” he whispered. “A lot.” It was rare for Tobias to sound so sincere. Sure, he’d tell you he missed you on the numerous calls while he was away, but it always sounded so amicable and reflexive rather than a genuine admission of longing.

“Yeah? Or did you just miss raiding my fridge?”

He chuckled, the sound sending a tingle down your spine with how close he was to your ear. “Mm, that too. But mostly you. We’re a team, aren’t we?” Tobias leaned away, arms moving to take your hands in his. He waited for a moment, eyes taking in the view of your face before he picked up his suitcase and called for you to lead the way out. His left hand, still entwined with yours, tugged a little, throwing you off balance. He didn’t let you fall though, letting his lips catch your cheek as he grinned and continued on as if nothing had happened. This was new. Something about the way his fingers clasped yours and the buzzing tension in every step you both took. The lines between friendship and something else had blurred beyond comprehension. But it was a comfortable space to be in, liminal as it may be. You had Tobias back now, for at least a week or two, and there was so much more that could happen in such a short space of time.

[brookesophelias]

Anna K went home & Vronsky went behind her. on the train, he said “i’m going wherever you are.” when Anna met Alexey Alexandrovich, she tried to forget Vronsky & he, her. (Her husband just wanted to hold her hand but) Vronsky keeps following them.

Alexei Vronsky flipping between “hedonistic himbo,” and “lovestruck intellectual,” is irritating. (this is not golden retriever boyfriend). Anna falling in love with him is not romantic, in my diagnosed-borderline, opinion. it makes me sick & im similar to her.

meanwhile, Alexey Karenin—he just wants to love his sick wife, & she is only thinking the other guy is better. did anyone think this novel would have a happy ending?